How Do Dentures Work?
Everyone wants to have a complete smile. Still, with age often comes a loss of teeth. Luckily, there is an option for the replacement of missing teeth that is both practical and aesthetically appealing—dentures.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are dental appliances that are used to replace a significant portion or all of your teeth that have been lost due to an accident, or poor oral health. These appliances are often made with acrylic and can also have metal parts.
Full Versus Partial Dentures
There are two different types of dentures that a dentist will place depending on the needs of your full and partial dentures. Full dentures are for patients that need all of their teeth replaced. The process of placing full dentures will sometimes require the extraction of a your remaining teeth. Partial dentures, on the other hand, replace a portion of the patient’s teeth—while maintaining the healthy teeth that still remain. Partial dentures often involve the use of metal clasps to hold the appliance in place, but also allow for the removal of the partial dentures when you need to take them out.
Immediate Versus Traditional Dentures
Once your dentist decides that dentures are the right option, they may either provide you with immediate or traditional dentures. Immediate dentures are appliances that a patient can leave the office with the same day of the appointment. Traditional dentures, on the other hand, need to be fabricated—which takes time. It is important to note that—while you are able to start using immediate dentures as soon as you leave the dentist’s office— you will need to return at some point to have your dentures adjusted.
Why Dentures?
Dentures help to maintain the health of the gums, while also allowing patients to smile, bite and chew. This makes them excellent both for aesthetic and functional reasons. Partial dentures also help to prevent healthy teeth from shifting, which can lead to the impacting of healthy teeth, gum disease and tooth decay.
How Do Dentures Work?
Full dentures fit over your gums, and are often held in place with suction. This allows the patient to speak and chew. Partial dentures and implant-supported dentures, on the other hand, are held in place with the help of some sort of support. Partial dentures will often be attached to healthy teeth as anchors. Implant-supported dentures are held in place with dental implants. Both of these options add an additional layer of security, and are held in place easier than full dentures.
Am I a Candidate for Dentures?
If you have a significant amount of missing teeth, or if you need to have your remaining teeth pulled, it is likely that you are a candidate for dentures. Speak with your dentist about what type of dentures are right for you, and whether immediate or traditional dentures are the best option for you.
Learn more about dentures : More About Same Day Dentures